Fan Fox & Leslie R Samuels Foundation Inc

Quick Stats

• Annual Giving: $9.8 million
• Total Assets: $149 million
• Success Rate: Not publicly available
• Decision Time: Not publicly available
• Grant Range: Not publicly specified
• Geographic Focus: New York City

Contact Details

• Website: Not publicly available
• Phone: Not publicly listed
• Email: Not publicly listed
• Location: New York, NY

Overview

The Fan Fox & Leslie R. Samuels Foundation, established in 1961, is a private foundation with approximately $149 million in total assets and annual charitable disbursements of around $9.8 million. The foundation dedicates 87-88% of its total expenses to charitable causes, focusing on two primary areas: performing arts and healthy aging services in New York City. The foundation maintains a significant commitment to Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts and has historically supported high-quality performing arts companies, professional arts education, and healthcare services for elderly populations throughout NYC.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

The foundation operates in two main program areas:

• Performing Arts Program: Supporting dance, music, opera, and theater companies in NYC
• Healthy Aging Program: Improving healthcare and quality of life for elderly New Yorkers

Priority Areas

• High-quality performing arts companies
• Professional arts education and training
• Healthcare services for the elderly
• Programs that increase access to support and care for older adults
• Service delivery improvements for senior populations
• Support for underserved elderly populations
• Initiatives helping older adults remain in their homes

What They Don't Fund

• Arts-in-education programs (no longer accepting applications for this category)

Governance and Leadership

• Chairman: Joseph C. Mitchell
• President: Robert Marx

The foundation operates with a professional leadership team overseeing strategic grant-making decisions aligned with their dual mission of supporting performing arts and healthy aging initiatives in New York City.

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

This funder does not have a public application process. Grants appear to be awarded through trustee discretion, pre-existing relationships, and invitation-only opportunities. The foundation has specifically noted that they no longer accept applications for arts-in-education programs, suggesting a selective approach to grant-making across all program areas.

Decision Timeline

Not publicly available

Success Rates

Not publicly available

Reapplication Policy

Not publicly specified

Application Success Factors

Without a public application process, organizations seeking support from the Fan Fox & Leslie R. Samuels Foundation should focus on:

• Demonstrating clear alignment with the foundation's two core focus areas: performing arts or healthy aging in NYC
• Building visibility within New York City's performing arts or senior services sectors
• Establishing credibility through high-quality programming and professional standards
• Showing impact on underserved populations, particularly in healthy aging initiatives

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

• The foundation operates by invitation only with no public application process
• Focus exclusively on performing arts and healthy aging services in New York City
• Major, long-term supporter of Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts
• Prioritizes established, high-quality organizations over emerging groups
• No longer funds arts-in-education programs
• With $9.8 million in annual giving from $149 million in assets, the foundation is a significant but selective funder
• Organizations must build relationships and visibility within NYC's arts or aging sectors to be considered

References

• ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer - Fan Fox & Leslie R. Samuels Foundation profile (accessed January 2026)
• GuideStar Profile - EIN 13-3124818 (accessed January 2026)
• IRS Tax-Exempt Organization Database